Family Time

Tia Kouvo's 2023 Finnish film follows a family gathered at Christmas. Everything proceeds as in previous years; the grandfather drinks too much, the grandmother tries to keep the mood and no one says anything. The first part shows the holiday and the second a funeral months later. The same people sit at the same table; the narrative does not underline the difference between the two gatherings and leaves it to the viewer. The camera never moves and the scenes consist of single takes. The dialogue is everyday and seems trivial; the tension comes from what goes unsaid. The tone is dry and the humour bitter. Who it's for: those who like Nordic family drama and formal plainness. Who it's not for: viewers waiting for an event; no one opens the matter across the film.